Cassette ejecting device for cassette-type video recording and/or reproducing apparatus

Abstract

A video recording and/or reproducing apparatus of the type having a tape guide drum with at least one rotary magnetic head associated therewith, a cassette holding device spaced from the drum and including a holder movable between an elevated position for receiving and discharging a tape cassette and a lowered position for operatively positioning the cassette therein, a tape loading and unloading device effective, in a loading operation, to withdraw tape from the operatively positioned cassette and to wrap the withdrawn tape about the guide drum for the recording or reproducing of video signals thereon by the rotary head and, in an unloading operation, to unwrap the tape from the guide drum and return the tape to the operatively positioned cassette, and a motor energized for operating the apparatus, for example, driving the rotary head and the capstan by which the tape is advanced during recording and reproducing operations; is further provided with a cassette ejecting device which includes a holder displacing mechanism operative, in response to rotation of a drive member, to return the cassette holder to its elevated position for discharging or ejecting the cassette therefrom, a transmission assembly having an operative state for rotating the drive member by the motive force of the above mentioned motor and an inoperative state in which the drive member is disconnected from the motor, and a control for such transmission assembly which permits the establishment of the operative state of the latter only when the tape loading and unloading device is in the condition thereof characteristic of the completion of a tape unloading operation. In a preferred embodiment, the tape loading and unloading device includes a support member moved from a starting position to an operative position during the loading operation and being returned to its starting position at the completion of the unloading operation, and the control for the transmission assembly is responsive to the positioning of such support member to hold driving and driven transmission members disengaged from each other so long as the support member is displaced from its starting position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a cassette-type recording and/or reproducing apparatus that includes a tape guide drum with at least one rotary magnetic head moved in a circular path substantially coinciding with the periphery of said drum, a cassette holding device spaced from said drum and having a holder displaceable between a first position at which a tape cassette is insertable in, and removable from said holder and a second position at which the cassette in said holder is operatively positioned, a tape loading and unloading device operative, in a loading operation thereof, to withdraw tape from the operatively positioned cassette and wrap the withdrawn tape about at least a portion of the periphery of said guide drum for scanning by each said rotary head and, in an unloading operation, to unwrap the tape from said guide drum and return the tape to the operatively positioned cassete, and a motor which is energizable for operating the apparatus: the combination of motor control means for initiating the energizing of said motor upon the displacement of said holder to said second position and continuing said energizing of the motor until said holder is returned to said first position; and a cassette ejecting device comprising holder displacing means operative to return said holder from said second position to said first position, a drive member which is rotatable for effecting operation of said holder displacing means, transmission means having an operative state in which said drive member is connected with said motor so as to be rotated by the motive force of the latter for operating said holder displacing means and an inoperative state in which said drive member is disconnected from said motor, and control means responsive to a condition of said tape loading and unloading device for permitting establishment of said operative state of the transmission means only when the condition of said tape loading and unloading device corresponds to that at the completion of said unloading operation thereof. 
     
     
       2. A cassette-type recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 1; in which said tape loading and unloading device includes a support member moved from a starting position to an operative position in the course of said loading operation and being returned to said starting position upon said completion of the unloading operation, and said control means detects the presence of said support member in said starting position for permitting establishment of said operative state of the transmission means. 
     
     
       3. A cassette-type recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 2; in which said transmission means includes driving and driven transmission members respectively coupled to said motor and said drive member, and means mounting one of said transmission members for movement relative to the other of said transmission members in one direction for engagement with each other in said operative state and in the opposite direction for disengagement from each other in said inoperative state; and in which said control means includes means operative for urging said one transmission member in said one direction, and blocking means for blocking the movement of said one transmission member in said one direction except when said support member of the tape loading and unloading device is in said starting position thereof. 
     
     
       4. A cassette-type recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 3; in which said blocking means includes an abutment on said means mounting said one transmission member, a blocking member movable into and out of the path of movement of said abutment with said one transmission member in said one direction, a cam follower connected with said blocking member, and a cam surface on said support member engaged by said cam follower to dispose said blocking member in said path of movement of the abutment when said support member is displaced from said starting position thereof. 
     
     
       5. A cassette-type recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 3; in which said means operative for urging said one transmission member in said one direction includes a solenoid, and spring means connecting said solenoid with said means mounting said one transmission member so that the latter is urged in said one direction by said spring means upon energizing of said solenoid. 
     
     
       6. A cassette-type recording and/or reproducing apparatus according in claim 1; in which said holder has an opening at least at the front thereof through which the tape cassette is slidably insertable and removable; and in which said cassette ejecting device includes an ejecting member mounted on said holder for movement relative to the latter in directions away from and toward said front of the holder, said ejecting member being engageable and movable in said direction away from the front of said holder by a cassette upon the insertion of the latter in the holder through said front opening, spring means yieldably urging said ejecting member in said direction toward the front of said holder, and guide means for said ejecting member blocking movement of the latter in said direction toward the front of said holder upon displacement of the latter from said first position so that said ejecting member is moved by said spring means in said direction toward the front of said holder for projecting the cassette out of said front opening only upon the return of said holder to said first position by said holder displacing means. 
     
     
       7. A cassette-type recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 6; in which said cassette holding device further includes a frame, and means guiding said holder for substantially vertical movements in respect to said frame between said first and second positions of the holder; and in which said guide means for the ejecting member includes at least one slot having a vertical portion and a horizontal portion extending forwardly from one end of said vertical portion, and follower means extending from said ejecting member and being slidably along each said slot so as to engage in said horizontal portion of the slot when said holder is in said first position. 
     
     
       8. A cassette-type recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 7; in which said first position of the holder is spaced upwardly from said second position, and said horizontal portion of each said slot extends from the upper end of said vertical portion so that said holder is movable by gravity from said first position to said second position when said ejecting member is moved by a cassette inserted in said front opening of the holder so as to displace said follower means along said horizontal portion of the slot to said upper end of the vertical portion. 
     
     
       9. A cassette-type recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 8; further comprising one-way clutch means interposed between said transmission means and said rotatable drive member for transmitting operating torque only in the direction from said transmission means to said drive member and permitting free-wheeling of said drive member by said holder displacing means during the gravitational movement of said holder from said first position to said second position. 
     
     
       10. A cassette-type recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 1; in which said motor control means includes a switch, and a switch operating cam coupled with said rotatable drive member. 
     
     
       11. A cassette-type recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 8; in which said holder displacing means includes a crank pin coupled with said drive member to move in a circular path upon rotation of said drive member, an actuating lever pivoted on said frame and having a slot along which said follower means is also movable, and a connecting rod pivotally connected at its opposite ends to said actuating lever and to said crank pin, respectively. 
     
     
       12. A cassette-type recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 11; in which said connecting rod depends from said actuating lever and the lower end portion of said rod has a longitudinally elongated opening receiving said crank pin for the pivotal connection of the latter to said rod; and further comprising latch means operative upon the gravitational movement of said holder to said second position for securing said holder thereat, and latch releasing means operative in response to initial rotation of said drive member for releasing said latch means and thereby freeing said holder for displacement from said second position with said crank pin moving along said elongated opening of the connecting rod during said initial rotation so that said holder displacing means commences the return of said holder from said second position to said first position only after the release of said latch means. 
     
     
       13. A cassette-type recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 1; further comprising latch means operative upon the arrival of said holder in said second position for securing said holder thereat, and latch releasing means operative in response to initial rotation of said rotatable drive member for releasing said latch means and thereby freeing said holder for displacement from said second position thereof; and in which said holder displacing means includes lost-motion connecting means at which there is relative movement during said initial rotation of the rotatable drive member so that said holder displacing means commences the return of said holder from said second position to said first position only after said initial rotation of the drive member.